It was a cold, dark, fall night; the wind in my face didn't help much for my body temperature. Maybe I should have listened to Akiza and put on a warmer jacket. Oh well. It's too late now. I have to keep going. New Domino depends on it.
I hear the sound of heavy breathing and running paws right behind me. I try to turn my Runner around, but for whatever reason, I get thrown off. Something huge, hairy and slobbery lands on me, causing me to gasp for air that doesn't come easily. This thing must weigh a few hundred pounds. I can tell because I can feel my ribs crack. The thing lunges at me, and I hear and feel my shoulder snap. I see a bright light, and hear voices I know, yet I can't distinguish who they belong to. The thing on my chest leaps off, and I can see some people bending over me. Helmets. They have helmets on. Then, everything goes black.
Someone's crying. I want to help, but can't move my fingers. There's a ringing in my ears. I can hear people talking. I am barely aware of my shoulder feeling like it has pins and needles stuck in it. My ribs feel like they are on fire. My eyes manage to open. I can make out a bright light above my head. I blink a few times, and can make out two children leaning over me.
"Leo...? Luna...?" I ask. The twins show me identical smiles.
"Yusei!" Luna says as she wipes her eyes.
"Hey, guys, Yusei's awake!" Leo informs some unseen group. I try to sit up when my shoulder gives a sharp stab of protest. At least the ringing in my ears stops. I am almost knocked back down by Akiza. I can tell it's her because all I can see is her hair and smell her rose scented shampoo.
"Take it easy, Akiza. Let the poor guy breathe. You don't want to make more work for the doctor, do you?" Crow asks. Akiza pulls away from me. I can see her eye liner is smeared and running down her face. She turns sharply to Crow.
"I will make more work for the doctor, but he won't be working on Yusei, he will be working on you if you don't butt out! I was worried, all right?!" She snaps.
Crow holds his hands up in surrender.
"Okay, calm down. We where all worried. Right guys?" he asks. Leo and Luna nod.
"I wasn't worried. I knew Yusei would pull through, just like he always does." Says Jack, who is sitting in a chair, arms folded, legs crossed and eyes closed.
"Yeah, you were so calm. I saw how pale you got when you saw the blood." Crow says.
"Alright, knock it off. So tell me, did anyone catch the monster that did this to me?" I ask. Judging by the way my friends are staring at the ground, I'd say no.
"Did you at least catch a glimpse of it?" I ask.
"It ran off before Carly could take some pictures. She's out there now with Security, trying to find it." Jack informs me.
"I hope they'll be alright. I don't want anyone else to get hurt." I say. I suddenly remember how I ended up like this.
"Did my Runner survive the attack?" I ask.
"Uuuh... Yusei, I really sorry to tell you this..." Leo started to say. He seems to have trouble finding the right words.
"What my brother is trying to say is... Your Runner got wrecked. All Security could find were pieces."
"Well that's just great." I say bitterly. I swing my legs over the edge of my bed and push myself up with my good arm, dispite my friend's protest. I wobble a bit upon standing, and start heading for the door. I can hear Akiza's high heels following me.
"Yusei... I'm sorry." she says.
"It's not your fault. You weren't the one riding it." I say, not facing her.
"Yusei Jishikuji Fudo, don't you dare think for a second that this whole thing is your fault. It's that monster's fault for terrorizing New Domino. We just got tangled up it all this because we agreed to handle it together, as a team. It's not just you." She says. She's right behind me. I can smell her shampoo again.
"Maybe we should quit, then. I don't want you, or anyone to get hurt!" I almost yell.
"The Yusei I know would never give up. He would keep fighting, even when things got rough."
"Then maybe you don't know me!" I yell. I don't know why, but my temper just reached the danger zone.
Akiza does something unexpected. She hugs me from behind. As quickly as it shot up, my temper suddenly drops.
"I know what that Runner means to you, and I understand. It can't be replaced." She lets go of my middle and walks away.